A 36-year-old female office worker visited the Downtown physiotherapy clinic because she has been experiencing left sided headaches on and off for the past 2 months. She has noticed increasing pain in her left temporomandibular joint (TMJ) over the last 4 weeks. The pain occurs at night, at rest, and when opening the mouth or chewing. Stress at work seems to be a contributing factor. Aggravating factors include biting a big apple and chewing hard or tough food. Rest is better than chewing, although it remains painful. Drinking fluids and applying ice help ease the discomfort. She wakes up during the night due to the pain and her partner reports that she grinds her teeth when asleep. The pain is constant and worsens during and directly after opening the mouth or chewing. She is currently using prescribed sedatives for stress at work and has no other reported health problems.

We have discovered that she has left TMJ PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION

Our approach involves using manual therapy to regain pain-free range of motion, decrease the strain on the irritated TMJ disc(s), and promote proper movement at the joint. Additionally, we used dry needling to relax trigger points in the jaw muscles and alleviate pain. Strengthening exercises had been incorporated to address her muscle imbalances in the jaw and correct any suboptimal movement patterns when opening or closing her mouth. We also provided advice on sleeping positions, chewing patterns, and temporary modifications to the diet to reduce stress on the jaw and facilitate healing.

Furthermore, we also suggested postural strategies to minimize strain on the jaw, such as addressing ergonomic factors related to workstation set-up and forward head posture. we also treated her neck to address any postural issues or stiffness that may be affecting the jaw’s position and movement.

After receiving 3 weeks of treatment, she now lives each day without any pain!

She no longer has to give up hours for a nap. Gone are the days of missing out on work and social events due to ear and headache issues. With her improved health, both her personal and professional life will flourish!

By focusing on her work instead of her pain, she may even excel in her career.